THE TIMES OF HARVEY MILK

ROBERT EPSTEIN | USA | 1984 | 90 MIN | NR

One of the most acclaimed documentaries of the 1980s, Robert Epstein’s Oscar-winning film paints a vivid portrait of political trailblazer Harvey Milk, California’s first openly gay elected official. Tracing Milk’s origins from unlikely political upstart to groundbreaking national celebrity, the film captures both the inspiring optimism of Milk’s message and the sorrow and outrage sparked by his assassination in 1978. More than just a fascinating and necessary tribute to its subject, The Times of Harvey Milk represents a watershed moment in the representation of American gay life, and was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry in 2012.

American cinema has always held a mirror to the country’s ever-changing cultural and political landscape, giving the American people a chance to experience their deepest fears and loftiest ambitions magnified by the power of the silver screen. With State of the Union, PFS invites audiences to explore the country’s past and imagine its future through films that rigorously examine American leaders, institutions, and values while still being great works of entertainment.